Streets Is Talkin': STAR Speaks On “Objective Hate” & The Gossip Game

Few personalities have had the impact on urban media that Troi “Star” Torain of “Star & Buc Wild” infamy has created through his unique brand of objective hate.

From his Reality Check column in The Source (and Around The Way Connections before that) to several high profile terrestrial syndicated radio morning show slots, The Hater has challenged and scrutinized Hip-Hop’s elite with no fear of the consequences. Since then he has faced off with rappers, actors, rival DJ’s, NYPD and the F.C.C.

Recently Star has enjoyed a resurgence through live stream shows and a recurring role on the VH1’s drama filled The Gossip Game. Now with a slot on a weekly television series and his Shot97.com site as his dual platforms, The Hater’s fire is hotter than ever.

Star recently caught up with Hip-Hop Wired to discuss his come up and sets the record straight on the hate and reality television.

HipHopWired.com: How would you define objective hate?

Star: Objective hate is the total belief in one’s self with the full understanding of man’s nature. That’s my personal belief philosophy. That’s what has driven me over the years and that’s what I have revealed to the masses.

HHW: You really made a name for yourself on terrestrial radio. The Star & Buc Wild brand has seen a recent resurgence if you will through online media. How has that transition been for you?

Star: It’s been nice – I say nice because the last terrestrial radio [show] for us was WPHI 100.3 The Beat with the good colored folks at Radio One. We had a one year deal with the understanding that the market was in real trouble before I even got there so we were trying to figure it out. They just cleaned house because just like other corporations they don’t understand PPM – the personal people meter. But I’ve always had my eye on the Internet and new media since 2003. I’ve realigned myself with this new culture, and applied a lot of my business methods to today’s frontier – so it’s nice. I still have the fire and I still have the energy so there is nothing slowing me down.

Now you have people who are more outspoken and talk very reckless but have no philosophy behind it. There has always been a philosophy to what I do – that’s the difference.

HHW: So Shot97.com is your online platform for urban media?

Star: Shot97.com is more than a platform for myself. It’s at the forefront of being a part of this new powerful tool that is at our fingertips. We just cracked the top 22,000 sites on Alexa.com in terms of traffic and have over 130 sites linking to us so we are a forced to be reckoned with.

HHW: Before Star & Buc Wild, DJ’s and radio personalities didn’t really get at artists, athletes and celebrities. What do you consider your impact on radio considering now it seems that is the only thing that is done on the airwaves?

Star: Clearly we were at forefront of the urban culture and a large part was due to the fact I didn’t come out of the womb of Hip-Hop. I was never a fan or even an admirer of this culture or its music. I really had issues with Hip-Hop. I’m not a comedian; I’m not trying to make people laugh. What I was saying on the microphone was real. So while people were very upset about rogue tactics a lot of other people were like, “Wow, someone is finally critiquing this insanity.”

When I got on terrestrial radio in March of 2000, it was insane. It was everyone was just fabricating their background. We were just coming out of the whole Bad Boy era with the shiny suits and people were scrambling. Jay-Z was talking about “Big Pimpin” and all this other stuff so I really had issues with it. So prior to that, you just had people who were fans of the music – no one dared say anything that extreme because we are talking about New York. Now you have people who are more outspoken and talk very reckless but have no philosophy behind it. There has always been a philosophy to what I do – that’s the difference.